Steamshed Posted September 9, 2019 Share Posted September 9, 2019 I am a total novice and newbie to railway modelling after a lot of research and searching l have spent the last few weeks modelling a number of buildings in preparation for my attempt at a layout. I have reached a point where I need to decide on the track work but am struggling to come up with any sort of layout plan. I am hoping that you experienced guys will point me at least some way in the right direction. I have an indoor area which will allow me to build a layout 22 feet by 4 or 5 feet wide. I would like to build something which when completed will keep me intrigued and occupied. My main interest lies in steam from around 1920 and gwr. I want to incorporate a country station, goods depot, engine shed, signal box etc and eventually extend to include a small village. Your help and advice on the layout of trackwork to create something fictitious but interesting would be invaluable. Hoping you can help. John. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Ray H Posted September 9, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 9, 2019 I'd suggest you download a free copy of AnyRail and see what you can fit into the area you have available. You'll only be able to use 50 pieces of track with the free version but that should be enough to give you an idea of what you can do with the space. One thing is immediately evident - with a width limited to 4 - 5 feet you'll not be able to accommodate a circular layout as the minimum radius normally used is 4 feet or thereabouts for small locos and rolling stock and 6 feet and above for anything bigger. Don't work on a 4 - 5 feet wide board unless you can have access from each side as you'll never be able to reach from one side to the other unless your normal name is Mr Twizzle! I'd certainly not aim to have anything wider than about 2 feet 6 inches if you need to reach across the board and its scenery You can also work out how long an average coach, wagon and loco are if you know their real length and you'll need to know these measurements so that platforms, run round loops and sidings are long enough to accommodate whatever you plan to use them for (and don't forget you'll need to allow a little more than the length of a point so that you can pass a vehicle on the adjacent line. Hope that helps for starters. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Northroader Posted September 9, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 9, 2019 If you really fancy O gauge you could join the Gauge O Guild, there’s a quarterly magazine equal to any of the model railway magazines, specialist shows with layouts and dealers, including bring and buy and executor and trustee stalls, plenty of advice, trade news and friendship. Recently published booklet on Small Layouts which may help you with ideas. I agree with Ray that you’re looking at some form of “shelf” layout in the available space. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnarcher Posted September 9, 2019 Share Posted September 9, 2019 (edited) I would add from personal experience (long ago when I had more space) while it is probably a good idea having tracks no more than 2' 6" or 3ft from the front it's no problem having wider boards if they are separable boards that can be worked on from both sides (making scenics etc), even if the back can't be reached in normal use. I just thought that worth mentioning because less than 3ft width is a bit limiting for 7mm scale, especially if you are interested in modelling the setting as well as the railway, which, from your mention of a model village you seem to be. Some sort of terminus to fiddle yard set up on quite wide boards would fit well I should think, and give some scope for the buildings. A through station would be possible, thou an extra fiddle yard loses a fair bit of length in that scale. Just a thought - Culmstock was a smallish through station, with attractive buildings close to the station. Edited September 9, 2019 by johnarcher Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steamshed Posted September 9, 2019 Author Share Posted September 9, 2019 Sound advice and thankyou guys, please keep it comming. I have allowed room to be able to work from both sides but I totally agree space is limited in this scale. Unfortunately my hands are quite poorly from an illness so the size of things in o gauge are important for me to work with. I have given some thought to the o guage guild and will most likely join. Genuinely look forward to hearing more from you. Thankyou. John. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Kris Posted September 10, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 10, 2019 Just remember that although 22ft sounds like a lot of space (and it would be for smaller scales), it is not much when you scale it out for O gauge. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
40034_Nick Posted September 11, 2019 Share Posted September 11, 2019 On 09/09/2019 at 19:35, Steamshed said: I am a total novice and newbie to railway modelling after a lot of research and searching l have spent the last few weeks modelling a number of buildings in preparation for my attempt at a layout. I have reached a point where I need to decide on the track work but am struggling to come up with any sort of layout plan. I am hoping that you experienced guys will point me at least some way in the right direction. I have an indoor area which will allow me to build a layout 22 feet by 4 or 5 feet wide. I would like to build something which when completed will keep me intrigued and occupied. My main interest lies in steam from around 1920 and gwr. I want to incorporate a country station, goods depot, engine shed, signal box etc and eventually extend to include a small village. Your help and advice on the layout of trackwork to create something fictitious but interesting would be invaluable. Hoping you can help. John. John ! I have sent you a personal message Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steamshed Posted September 11, 2019 Author Share Posted September 11, 2019 Thankyou nick for the pm, With regards to space and sizing of the layout, I can only work with the space that I have available but may be able to go up to another foot in width. I am sure that many others have created an interesting layout in a similar area as not everyone has acres of room. I am sure that I will get there in the end, your help in any form would be very much apreciated. John. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Holliday Posted September 11, 2019 Share Posted September 11, 2019 On 9 September 2019 at 20:08, Northroader said: If you really fancy O gauge you could join the Gauge O Guild, there’s a quarterly magazine equal to any of the model railway magazines, specialist shows with layouts and dealers, including bring and buy and executor and trustee stalls, plenty of advice, trade news and friendship. Recently published booklet on Small Layouts which may help you with ideas. I agree with Ray that you’re looking at some form of “shelf” layout in the available space. You don't need to join the Guild to gain access to their first book on Small Layouts, as it is available as a PDF download. There are a lot of designs therein, but the great bonus is that they have all been built, and photographs of the layouts help to give a better idea than just the plans. You've got a bit more room than the small layouts need, but most of them would benefit from being able to stretch their legs, and your list of desiderata is rather more ambitious than the aspirations of those short of space, and you may need to adapt some to get all you want, but they are all inspirational. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Northroader Posted September 11, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 11, 2019 Good thinking, Nick, I’m sticking a link in for that: https://www.gauge0guild.com/Small_layouts_1-02.pdf actually, this book is the first of three, it was followed later by book two, and recently a compilation is taking shape for the third one, although I haven’t yet seen that appear. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now